So whaddya do...

when you have no new pictures to post? I guess you just write something anyway.

I have avoided posting anything new, since I haven't taken any pictures, but I guess that doesn't quite keep up my end of the blogging promise. So what has been happening since last I blogged?

I got my baby girl back from Grammy and Grandpa's house. Katie had gone down to Austin help Grandpa at the Retired Dog hot dog stand for week. She needed to earn the last of her money for her year of texting. (We actually MAKE her pay for the texting plan on our phones a year in advance...aren't we mean?) I didn't realize how much I missed her until she came home. She is such a fine young woman, helpful and responsible. I supposed this came of having to help me so much when Daddy is deployed, but whatever the reason, I am so grateful for her.

Summer school is officially over for me!! Woo Hoo! This summer I took two classes, Politics and Film and Politics and Music. I enjoyed the latter much better than the former. Somehow the music class really jived with the way that I was brought up. I coulda done without the film class. But at least I made As in both of them!

Excitement in the 'hood!

There is never a dull moment in my life!



While the kids were napping after our zoo adventure, there was excitement in the neighborhood. The fire department and an ambulance were called to a house just down the street from us. I don't know what happened, but the kids were excited to see the pictures of the emergency vehicles in our neighborhood.




UPDATE: John went down to ask the firemen if everything was ok. He said the little boy who lived in the house had hurt his head, but would be fine. Thank Goodness!

Hoorah for the Zoo!!

Nothing like going to the ZOO for free! Today it was a free-for-all, literally!




Sam made a list before we left of everything he wanted to see..while walking around he carefully crossed off animals as he saw them. The only thing he didn't get to see were the elephants (which are on a mating date at the Tulsa Zoo) and pandas (which we don't have).





We saw peacocks.


Galapagos Turtles


And Butterflies.


Henry the Rhino’s cousin was there.


We waved to the flamingoes.


We saw tigers.


Looked at the ducks swimming on the Lake.


We measured a grizzly bear’s claw against our own.


Counted seven alligators


We found Jackson in the Great EscAPE!


Met up with Dad


And with some giraffes!






















We posed for pictures at all the statues we could find...










And then went home and took a nap!

Finally cool enough for the pool!

Who ever thought they would hear someone say that in the dead of summer? Well, since it has been so dang hot we have avoided any outdoor activity like slugs. But today the cold front moved in and dropped our boiling Oklahoma temperatures down to the mid 90s! So a trip to the pool was a must!

I promised the kids that if they took a nap (oh and slept) that we would go this afternoon. They did exactly as I asked and because it was beautiful out, I had to pay up...so we got ready and got in the van. See their smiling faces...how happy they are to finally be going to the pool?!?










We drove happily to the base pool with only swimming on our minds...only to be blindsided with this:







The storm was complete with golf-ball sized hail and 75mph winds! What is up with that? Isn't this summer vacation?

Needless to say we had some sad going home faces...



We managed to outrun the storm and got home safe and dry, the skies cleared and it was nice again.

We must live in Oklahoma!

Too Hot For The Pool

Whaddya do when it's TOO Hot for the pool?

You head to McDonald's for an ice cream and play on the playground!




After a week of 105+++ degree heat...even going to pool is too much! So today we grabbed the Whitakers and headed over to Mickey D's for a treat and some physical activity!






While we were there, Kim and I checked the forecast for the rest of the week...It looks like we are gonna get a cold front here in Oklahoma City!!! You know it's really hot when you start to think that 95 degrees is a cold front!

Ahhh...is it winter yet?

A Little Magic Anyone?

Tonight we took Isabella, Sam and Emma-Rose to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince...yes, you are right...a few days early! Tonight the movie was offered as a sneak preview on Tinker Air Force Base. We had to get there about 2 hours early to get a seat. But it was worth it! The kids loved it and they loved that they got to see it even before the midnight showing where Katie was planning on being the first to see it.

Sorry Katie!

I guess membership has its privileges!

37 Candles Make A LOT of Smoke!

Today is John's 37th birthday. He loves the fact that for 3 months of the year he can say he married an older woman. I love that for the rest of the year he has to admit we are the same age. My little secret revenge!

This weekend, my parents and Isabella were here to share it with John.













We started out the day by making his favorite meal (enchiladas) and his requested snickerdoodles!

The kids each had to make their own crazy cookie face to get a cookie! As you can see, they did a GREAT job!











Everyone really enjoyed them.

We even made a batch full of M&Ms for the littlest ones! (a REAL hit!)




John got his favorite cake...a Boston Creme pie. It wasn't as good as my homemade one...but it did the job.

He had trick candles, but eventually managed to huff and puff them all out! 37 candles make a LOT of smoke!



But even though we might need a fire extinguisher before next year's birthday festivities, we hope you have a GREAT year Daddy!